Bottom line

MetroPCS is a solid choice if you're looking for unlimited
monthly plans. MetroPCS uses the T-Mobile network and its roaming partners to
cover a claimed 90 percent of the U.S., though roaming costs extra. This
carrier's customer service receives the highest ratings in several large
customer surveys, an unusual occurrence for a wireless network.

Plans and flexibility

All plans are unlimited. Editors at TopTenReviews.com say that MetroPCS offers three excellent
monthly plans but that there is no pay-as-you-go option. A monthly plan with
unlimited talk, text and data costs $40, with the first 500 MB of data at 4G
speeds. For $50 per month, the high-speed data cap is upped to the first 2.5
GB. Finally, a completely unlimited plan costs $60 per month. You can add
additional lines for the family at a discount of $5 per line.

Performance

Improved coverage. Most reviews and surveys include feedback that dates to before the
T-Mobile/ MetroPCS merger in June 2013, which dramatically increased the
network available to MetroPCS users. Coverage now extends nationwide; however,
data coverage can be limited in some areas. Roaming phone calls outside of the
carrier's home and extended-home areas cost extra (Est. 19 cents per minute),
but texting is free nationwide. The latest information on MetroPCS coverage can
be found on its website.

Customer service

Highest marks in large surveys. Editors at TopTenReviews.com praise MetroPCS's customer service after
trying it themselves. MetroPCS receives the highest marks in two large customer
service surveys conducted by J.D. Power and Associates. In contrast, customers
at PrepaidReviews.com have mixed views: some say that they've always had
excellent customer service, while others report that it's difficult to contact
customer support.

Phone selection

Bring your own iPhone. MetroPCS doesn't offer as many choices as some other prepaid cell phone
service providers, but does carry some of the latest Android LTE devices. It
also offers a Windows 8 phone, the Nokia Lumia 521 (Est. $100), a mid-tier
device with 4G but not LTE capabilities. MetroPCS does not sell the Apple
iPhone, but you can activate an unlocked iPhone 5 (but not the iPhone 5s or
iPhone 5c) on the company's network. You can also activate other compatible
phones. SIM cards for unlocked phones cost $10. Basic-feature phones are free.

Our Sources

1. ConsumerReports.org

Metro PCS is one of eight prepaid service carriers rated
in ConsumerReports.org's latest cell phone customer service survey, which
includes 58,000 respondents in total.

Review: Cell Phones and Services, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, September 2013

2. J.D. Power and Associates

In this 2013 J.D. Power Customer Care survey of
non-contract cell phone users, MetroPCS just beats Virgin Mobile for first
place; both cell phone service providers receive a full 5 out of 5 stars.
MetroPCS earns high marks from customers who dealt directly with a customer
service representative.

Concerned only with pay-as-you-go wireless plans,
J.D. Power and Associates surveys over 5,000 wireless subscribers who rate
their wireless purchase experiences made by phone calls to sales
representatives, visits to retail stores or online. MetroPCS narrowly loses out
to Boost Mobile, though both providers do receive 5 out of 5 stars.

PCMag.com readers rate their overall satisfaction
with manufacturers and services, including mobile carriers. Among prepaid
providers, MetroPCS ranks second behind Straight Talk; both receive an above-average
overall score. A chart shows how each service stacks up in a dozen
categories, including price and handset choices.

MetroPCS is in fifth place in TopTenReviews.com's
roundup of prepaid phone services for 2014. Editors say that MetroPCS's monthly
plans are among the best they've evaluated, but that service has limited
coverage outside home areas, incurring extra fees for usage in these regions. MetroPCS's
customer support service, tested by the editors, and its phone selection both receive
praise.

MetroPCS receives a 4-star rating (out of 5) at
PrepaidReviews.com, although editors say the carrier's biggest setback is its
limited coverage. Subscribers aren't as impressed: a number have complaints
about poor customer service, limited coverage and call quality. However,
feedback here appears to largely predate the MetroPCS/T-Mobile merger.

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